Once the private yacht of Hollywood power couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, the Kalizma docks in Sri Lanka
Compiled by Tiranya Yalindee Ranasinghe
Dubbed as the Orient Express of the Sea, the Kalizma is the world’s oldest yacht comprising countless stories since its inception in the 1900s.
Previously known as the Minona, the yacht was built in 1906 as a private yacht for Robert Steward, the previous owner of Kirkliston Distillery and a highly esteemed Scottish estate owner. Meeting his exceptional standards, the luxury yacht was designed by G.L Watson & Co and built by Ramage and Ferguson, Leith, Scotland.
Not only did the yacht survive two World Wars but it also served in the Auxiliary Patrol Fleet of the British Royal Navy during World War I and British Royal Navy in World War II.
During the World War I, Minona was offered to provide services for the British Royal Navy under the ownership of George Coats, 1st Baron Glentanar. It began its service in October 1914 as an Auxiliary Patrol Vessel and contained armaments of guns to aid in battles against the enemies. Surviving the first world war gracefully, the yacht went on to serve its country in the second world war too where it was requisitioned by the British Admiralty and became the H.M.S Minona. It was the flagship and base for His Majesty’s Deep Sea Rescue Tug Services at Campbeltown, Scotland.
Being relieved from wartime duties, the Minona resumed its operations as a luxury private yacht and was renamed Cortynia in 1947 and again as Oddyseia in 1947. The yacht was modified as its engine was converted from steam to diesel between the periods of 1954 and 1955.
